Southeast Missourian Player of the Week: Jake Dobbelare

The Perryville baseball team will play for the Class 3 District 1 title Wednesday, and junior Jake Dobbelare is a big reason why.

The 6-foot-8 right-hander has earned the win on the mound in both of the Pirates' district games.

Dobbelare pitched three innings in relief in Perryville's 8-7 win over Ste. Genevieve in the opening round. He struck out three Dragons batters.

Dobbelare also provided the game-winning hit against Ste. Genevieve. He roped a 3-1 offering past the drawn-in Dragons defense to win the game.

"He threw a fastball. It was what I was looking for," Dobbelare said.

Dobbelare returned to the mound in the semifinal round against Notre Dame. Perryville coach Don O'Keefe said he hoped to get three inning from Dobbelare, but the right-hander went 5 1/3 innings to earn his second win in three days.

"It's one of the strongest he's looked all year," O'Keefe said.

O'Keefe said he liked what he saw from Dobbelare as the game progressed.

"As he kept going, as we were watching him, he kept getting stronger," O'Keefe said.

Dobbelare produced at the plate as well. He finished 2 for 3 and drove in a run to help spark his team's offense.

Dobbelare and his Perryville teammates will try to extend their playoff run Wednesday when they face Kennett for the district championship.